Post navigation

Here’s a look at some of the crime incidents that have happened in the neighborhood in recent weeks. Most information comes from SPD reports.

Two young men rob person in Craigslist scam at 31st/Yesler

Police are searching for two young men after they allegedly robbed someone at 31st and Yesler Thursday evening. Details from SPD:

Two young male suspects are at large tonight after robbing a man at gunpoint. At approximately 6:26 p.m. officers responded to the area of 31st Avenue and East Yesler Way for the report of an armed robbery of a citizen.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim placed an advertisement on Craig’s List to purchase an i-phone. He then arranged to meet with whom he thought were the sellers at 31st Avenue and East Yesler Way. Upon arrival the suspects brandished a gun and robbed the victim of his cash and cell phone. The suspects fled the area on foot and remain at large.

Both suspects are described as black males, 5’8″ to 6 feet tall and 15 to 16 years of age. One suspect had a black jacket, baseball cap, and dark pants. There is no further description at this time of the second suspect.

Robbery detectives responded to the scene and continue to actively investigate.

Police believe David Hansen, 25, brutally beat and robbed a man in November after meeting him for sex.

In another case earlier this month, Hansen showed up to a Capitol Hill home for sex. Once inside the home, Hansen pulled out a gun and stole phones, laptops, and wallets from two victims.

Detectives are working to arrest Hansen for the two robberies, and are hoping anyone else targeted by him will contact police.

If you’ve been victimized by Hansen or know where police can find him, please call 911 or contact the Robbery Unit at (206) 684-5535.

Madrona burglary suspects tracked to downtown hotel, arrested

After a late night burglary January 19 at 35th and Union in Madrona, police used a Macbook tracking application to find two suspected burglars staying in a downtown hotel. From SPD:

At around 1:20 am Saturday, two officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1400 Block of 35th Avenue for a burglary call. The burglary occurred sometime between Friday night and 1:00 am Saturday morning. Over four thousand dollars worth of items were stolen. One of the stolen items was an Apple Mac Book computer with a tracking application. With the victim’s assistance, the officers were able to track the stolen computer to a Best Western hotel downtown.

Officers responded to that location and attempted to contact the occupants. Officers knocked on the door but received no response. The officers could hear noises inside the room and the light was on. The officers then contained the room while one officer obtained a search warrant.

Two suspects came out of the room peacefully and were taken into custody. Officers located the stolen computer inside, along with an electronic read book and a stolen jacket with the security tag still attached. One of the suspects was also in possession of close to $2,000. All of the items were recovered and placed into evidence.

One of the officers was able to locate the owner of the e-book. The owner did not realize that it had been taken from his apartment, so that theft was documented on a separate police report.

The two suspects, a 21-year-old man and a 33-year-old female were arrested and booked into the King County Jail.

Woman’s body found near Rainier under the I-90 Overpass

A woman’s body was found during Friday morning’s One Night Count, an annual Seattle/King County count of homelessness. Police say it is not clear if there was trauma, and it is not yet clear if there was a crime. Details from SPD:

An adult woman’s body was found early this morning by outreach workers in the grass next to the street in the 1200 Block of Rainier Avenue South.

Police responded to the call at about 3:45 this morning. There were no obvious signs of trauma. Investigators from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office responded and took custody of the body.

Regarding the Craigslist ad robbery, I’m still trying to figure out why someone would agree to meet a stranger on a street corner after dark to buy a mobile phone (or anything for that matter). Something just doesn’t seem right. I sold a used iPhone on Craigslist late last year, and I met the buyer at a very busy Starbucks, not on a dark sidewalk. I would think common sense would say to choose a spot with a lot of people, but then not everyone has common sense it seems.

Just want to be able to trust people. It’s sad that you’d have to prepare as though someone was going to rob you, but there are enough craigslist robberies (especially for i-devices) that meeting in a public space is a good idea. Wish it weren’t that way.

I would go so far as to say that whoever would agree to meeting someone after dark at 31st and Yesler (c’mon, let’s be real, you KNOW where you are…), has to have a pretty good idea it’s stolen. Do I feel sorry for him? No.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with meeting in a public place. It is sensible for many situations and for many reasons no matter where you live or who you are meeting for a transaction of any type. Instinct alarms should sound when someone want to avoid a public place.